Austin’s wise words driving Thatcham success
WORDS of wisdom from a “with it” grandad are helping prepare young potters at Thatcham Snooker Club for life on the South of England Cuestars circuit.
Retired sales manager Austin Noakes took over the Saturday Cuestars Section from Paul Broome in September, 2006 – on a temporary basis.
Three years on, he’s still there and loving every minute.
Austin insists that if Thatcham’s budding Ronnie O’Sullivans follow a few simple rules they can compete with the south’s finest players.
He said: “They’ve got to be able to take the shock of not winning and be very competitive. The last shot is gone; you can do nothing about that. The next shot is the one that counts.”
Austin became involved with the club through his grandson, Ben Gould, then aged 11.
Although a firm believer in discipline, he says the lads help him stay young at heart.
“Having younger grandchildren, you’ve got to be ‘with it’,” he said. “I do texting and I’m on the computer. If you’re that sort of mind you find you stay younger. It’s good for me.
“The club owner, Paul, said he was so pleased we took it over, otherwise what do kids do on Saturday mornings.
“We have very strict discipline rules: no swearing and quiet when they’re playing so that when they go to a tournament they know exactly what to expect. We do it professionally. Several of the parents have said to me they like the kids coming because they know there’s discipline. We have very little trouble.”
Thatcham’s Cuestars Section started in 2004.
Last season’s Saturday rankings was won by Ben Gould. Jordan Wallace was second and Sam Storey third. Alex Goulding won the ‘Most Improved Player’ award.
Ben, now 17, has a top break of 57. Jordan, 15, is one short of a half-century. Both play for The OddBalls in the Newbury Snooker League. Austin encourages the older lads to help coach the youngsters.
A supporter of this season’s new scratch format, Austin said: “It’s a good change. At the end of the season we’ll see whether it really worked.”
And he praised the support the Section receives from Cuestars director John Hunter.
“I’m glad of the backing that John gives us,” he said. “He comes up on occasion to do a bit of coaching and he also comes over to do the presentation of the cups. If I need any help he’s always there with some advice.”
Austin, whose Cuestars handicap is 63, admits to playing snooker “only very moderately”. His highest break is 25.
A second grandson, William Gould, 11, has recently signed on. Joining William, Ben and Jordan in the ten-man line-up for the 2009/10 season are: Sam Storey, Henry Vockins, Nathan Byrne, Charlie Rush, Ben Thompson, Joe Thompson and Alex Goulding.
Pictured: Thatcham Snooker Club Cuestars Section 2008/09, from left: Jordan Wallace, Jack Brind, Ben Gould, Sam Storey, Nathan Byrne, Austin Noakes, Joe Thompson, Michael Clingham, Cameron O’Sullivan, Charlie Rush, Jamie Laurence, Ben Thompson. Front row: Tyler Churcher, William Gould, Henry Vockins.